CCEA to mull over sale of pulses, cooking oil via PDS

04 Oct 2012 Evaluate

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is expected to reflect a proposal today to restore the scheme to supply imported pulses at a highly subsidized rate for next 6 months to protect BPL (Below Poverty Line) families from price shocks due to supply limitation. CCEA is expected to approve a 12th Five Year Plan scheme that aims to strengthen PDS through digitizing ration cards with an expenditure of around Rs 900 crore for the current fiscal on a cost-sharing basis.

The scheme for supply of imported pulses at subsidized rate under PDS for BPL category was discontinued in June, 2012. At present, the centre is planning to restore the scheme considering an estimated fall in kharif production. In the new scheme, the Food Ministry has proposed the Centre would give a higher subsidy of Rs 20/kg from Rs 10/kg in the earlier scheme. Around 4 lakh tonnes of imported pulses would be supplied to BPL families under this scheme. The proposed scheme will be effective during this fiscal.

The Food Ministry has also proposed to extend a scheme for distribution of edible oil through the Public Distribution System (PDS) at a subsidy of Rs 15/kg to individual states for one year till October 30, 2013. Around 10 lakh tonnes of imported edible oil would be distributed under this scheme. The schemes for pulses and edible oil are aimed at protecting BPL consumers as retail prices of these two commodities are likely to be under difficulty in the wake of a probable fall in production.

The pulses production in the kharif (summer) season is likely to be lower at 5.26 million tonnes against 6.16 million tonnes , similarly, oilseeds output may stand decline to 18.7 million tonnes in the review period as per government estimation.

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